Maya Angelou (4 April 1928)

Only a real woman, who has experienced the harsh reality of growing up in America where the standards of beauty are determined by anorexic supermodels, boozed out pop singers, drugged out actresses, and plastic surgery-addicted Barbie dolls, can truly appreciate Dr. Angelou's Phenomenal Woman. It takes a strong woman to love and appreciate herself for who she is regardless of the picture that the media portrays. Real beauty comes from knowing and loving one's self. This poem is definitely worthy of being Number 1. Thank you, Dr. Angelou!

good but not number 1 good

Tripe, but this needs 20 characters to post, let me add in the word garbage also.

My grandmother passed recently and I read this at her funeral. It touched everyone and as I read it again it brings tears to my eyes. My grandmother was a phenomenal woman and this poem will always remind me of her.

Very elegant and 'cute' poem, if I may say so. It embodies a free spirit that all women (and men as well) should strive towards. It reminds me of my mother (please see the poem I wrote on Christmas) because she was always free like the wind itself!

The first time i heard this poem was in me favorite movie Poetic Justice. I love this poem its so true...

Maya Angelou, This poem has made me realize my worth that slips me time to time. I feel proud of my gender and the roles that come with it. I feel beautiful and I know that this is not beauty that can be attributed to my figure or academics or any classic notion of beauty. I am beautiful because I am a woman who appreciates her worth in society.

i read this poem for the first time in a magazine - and it touched my soul. Brilliant.

Ms.Angelou I realy love this poem it is one of my favorites. I like the words you are useing to descride women and all the beautiful things we have on us and around us. I like this poem so much that i am going to memorize it and read at this thing at our school called the 'Poetry Jam'. It would be nice if you could come because most of my class are reading your poems. I have a few questions i would like to ask you
* Do you have a main theme about all of your poems like Emily Dikinson wrote about death alot.
* When did you start writting poetry and why?
* Who inspired you to start writting poetry
* where did you grow up
* When started to publish your poems was is hard because of your race?
* And last but not least did you have fun aon the novie set of 'Madiea', me and my family love that movie!
I go to school at Kiser Middle school in Greensboro N.C. If you have any spare time could you call me at (336) 292-0208.

Maya is one phenomenal woman! One of the most inspiring poems for a woman to read. Thanks Maya. Sincerely, Connie Webb